Press release

Gebrüder Weiss delivers equipment for the OeWF Analog Mission International logistics company starts preparations for transport of sensitive equipment to the mission area in Israel.

Innsbruck / Lauterach, July 8, 2021. As the official logistics partner of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), Gebrüder Weiss is transporting the globally unique mission equipment as well as 16 international science experiments to the test site in Israel. After the date had to be postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preparations for the transport from Austria to the Israeli Negev Desert are now officially underway. From October 4 to 31, the OeWF and international research partners will carry out the simulated astronautical Mars mission, “Amadee-20.”

Apprentices organize transport Young professionals at Gebrüder Weiss are taking an active role in organizing the transport. Under supervision, four trainees will be taking over all logistic tasks, customs clearance and the transport of mission equipment. Under the hashtag #marsmonday, they will be regularly providing personal insights into this extraordinary project on social media.

About Amadee-20 From October 04 to 31, the OeWF will be leading the international Mars Analog Mission, “Amadee-20.” Experiments from Austria, Germany, France, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA will be carried out by six specially trained OeWF analog astronauts. The mission equipment will fill two sea freight containers that Gebrüder Weiss will then transport from , Austria to the mission site in the Negev Desert in Israel - a site closely resembling the surface of Mars.

During the mission, the experts wear the simulator "Aouda," which was developed by OeWF. Currently, only five organizations worldwide are working on an equally complex space suit simulator. The analog astronauts (field crew) in Israel will be supported by the Mission Support Center in Innsbruck, where several teams will be responsible for supporting the field crew with conducting scientific research, preparing the mission schedule, securing the collected data, and monitoring the health of the field crew. “Amadee-20” is the 13th Mars Analog Mission of the OeWF. You can find out more at: https://oewf.org/en/portfolio/amadee- 20/

Caption: Gebrüder Weiss trainees organize transport for the OeWF Mars Analog Mission. (Source: Gebrüder Weiss / Sams)

Caption: Günter Schmarl, Branch Manager Hall / Tyrol (front left) and Armin Ploner, Branch Manager Air & Sea Hall (front right) with the Gebrüder Weiss project team for the Mars Analog mission. (Source: Gebrüder Weiss /Sams)

About Gebrüder Weiss With more than 7,400 employees, 170 company-owned locations and an annual turnover of 1.77 billion euros (2020), Gebrüder Weiss ranks among Europe's leading transport and logistics companies. In addition to its core business of land transport, air & sea freight, and logistics, the company operates a number of highly specialized industry solutions and subsidiaries under the umbrella of Gebrüder Weiss Holding AG, based in Lauterach (Austria) – including the logistics consultancy firm x|vise, tectraxx (industry specialist for hi-tech businesses), dicall (communications solutions, market research, training), Rail Cargo (railway transports), and the Gebrüder Weiss parcel service GWP, co-shareholder of the Austrian company DPD. This bundling of services allows the corporate group to respond to customer needs quickly and flexibly. Today, having implemented a variety of environmental, economic and social initiatives, the family-run company with a 500-year history is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices.

About the Austrian Space Forum The Austrian Space Forum is one of the world’s leading institutions conducting Mars analog missions, thus paving the way for the future human exploration of the Red Planet. Experts from a broad variety of disciplines as well as the sector constitute the core of the OeWF’s continued endeavors that on a regular basis include national and international institutions from science and industry to work at the cutting edge of scientific research. On doing so the Austrian Space Forum is using its excellent contacts to opinion leaders, politics and media to further and internationally propagate Austrian top- level research. The Austrian Space Forum also contributes significantly to inspiring and educating young people in the sectors of science, technology and engineering. The OeWF offers internships to students and pupils, its experts supervise scientific papers on a regular basis. www.oewf.org

Contact Gebrüder Weiss Corporate Communications Merlin Herrmann [email protected] Bundesstrasse 110, A-6923 Lauterach T +43.5574.696.2169 F +43.5.9006.2173 www.gw-world.com www.gw-world.com/de/news